Chapter Eleven

No one ever tells you about the things you will agree to when your woman is distracting you. Kaitlyn could ask me for anything when she's touching me or teasing me with her body, and I'd agree.

Which is how I ended up agreeing to go to her parents' place for dinner.

I really don't want to fucking be here. Killer is going to be a dick because I knocked his little girl up, and I am likely to say something stupid to piss Kaitlyn off. It sounds like a shit show, but she wants this, so I will give it to her.

I'd give her the world.

The compound isn't far from Kaitlyn's place. My hair stands on end as we are waved through the gate of the compound. Everyone who is milling about as we drive through eyes her car as we drive by, putting me on edge. I know they are doing it for show, to prove to me that they are watching. Still, it makes me want to start something.

It's not often you visit another MC's clubhouse, let alone show up on your own with none of your brothers at your back.

They could kill me, and no one would ever know what happened. My only assurance of safety is the woman in the passenger seat and the baby in the back.

"Park right here," Kaitlyn says, pointing to a spot in front of a home.

It's a nice home. Looks like somewhere that a family would be comfortable in. I love that for Kaitlyn. It makes me think of my own upbringing. I never had this.

I put the car in park and shut off the ignition. When I go to open the door, Kaitlyn reaches over and rests her hand on my arm.

"Hey, I just want to say thank you again for coming with me. I know it must be hard for you to come here."

"I'd do anything for you," I tell her honestly.

"I know."

I get out of the car and open the back door.

"Feel free to throw a fit so we can ditch this place at any time," I whisper to Kolby, making him giggle as I take his car seat out of the car.

We head up the front steps, trailing behind Kaitlyn, and follow her inside when she opens the door.

"We're here!" she yells out as I shut the door behind us.

"Hey sweetheart," her dad says as he rounds the corner, pulling her into his arms.

"Hi, Daddy."

When the hug ends, he turns toward me and nods. "Colt."

"Killer. Thanks for having us."

The corner of his lip twitches. "Anytime."

"Where's Mom?" Kaitlyn asks.

"She's in the kitchen and would like your help," Killer tells her.

"Of course she does." Kaitlyn sighs.

"Why don't you take Kolby with you? I'd like to take Colt for a walk and discuss some things."

As soon as the words leave his mouth, I tense. Kaitlyn shoots me a look over her shoulder, silently asking what she should do.

Wordlessly, I hand her our son's car seat.

"Be nice, both of you," she warns before walking away.

"Come on," Killer says as he slaps me on the shoulder, walking toward the door.

Reluctantly I fall into step behind him.

"So since you're staying around, I figured now would be the time to talk to you about what I expect from you," he says as soon as the door clicks shut behind us and we start down the steps.

Before I can even open my mouth to tell him to fuck off, he continues.

"I expect you to move here. The only way my little girl goes to Vegas is over my dead body. I expect you to make an honest woman out of her. Within the year, I want a ring on her finger and your name on her back."

I come to a stop and put my hands on my hips and chuckle. "Killer…"

He ignores me and continues. "What do you think about leaving your club? We would accept you into ours. Granted, I don't have a seat for you right now, but with time, I'm sure we could give you one when it opens."

I shake my head. "You do realize that all the things you've said aren't things for you to decide, right? What happens between Kaitlyn and me is between us, and only us. If she wants to stay, we will figure it out. If she wants to become my old lady, then it will be on our own time. Not because you forced our hands. As for leaving my club, that's not happening. I was born a Lotus, and I'll die one. So you can take your offer and shove it up your ass."

Killer gets in my face. "I will not have you speak to me like that at my home."

"Then don't come at me making demands that you have no right making," I say as I push him back a step.

Killer's eyes narrow as he pushes me. "I knew you were a no good piece of shit."

I scoff as I shove him. "I'm no good? Really. Pot meet fuckin' kettle."

"Daddy, Colt, knock it off!" Kaitlyn cries out.

"Why can't you just do as I fuckin' say?" Killer says as he lunges toward me, pushing me back.

He hits me hard enough I stumble back, my foot hitting something, making me fall backward. I grunt as I hit the ground, a tarp crinkling under me.

"Fuck. I'm sorry," Killer mumbles as he holds out a hand to help me up as he glances over to see if Kaitlyn saw what he did.

Yeah, buddy, she did. She isn't going to be happy about it, either.

I swat his hand away and stand. "I don't need your fuckin' help."

"What the…" Killer mumbles.

I follow his line of sight and see the toe of a boot. Reaching down, I pull back the tarp, and a body comes into view.

Fend.

"Are you fuckin' serious right now?" I roar as I lunge for my woman's father.

"Colt!" Kaitlyn screams.

"Stay right where you are, Kaitlyn," I demand before turning back to her father.

Killer is pale, eyes wide as he shakes his head. "I-I didn't know. I didn't do this, Colt."

"So you aren't the one who killed my father and is fucking with his club? Because from where I stand, it looks like it. I should kill you where you stand."

"I'm telling you, I had no beef with your father. We actually had an agreement. We would pass off work to one another when we could. He evenhelped me out a few years back when I had issues with a rival. This isn't me. This has to be a frame job. I swear."

I don't know why, but for some reason, I believe him. Maybe it's because I want to believe him, or maybe it's how shocked he looks right now. I have no reason to trust this man, but as I glance over at Kaitlyn, I know I will. For her.

I should be putting a bullet in his head, but that option is forever off the table. If I even considered it, Kaitlyn would leave me and take my entire world with her. That's not something I am willing to risk.

The crunch of gravel has us looking back to the house. Kaitlyn has left the porch and is stalking toward us.

"Katie bug, go back inside," her father pleads.

"No, you two need to stop fighting," she demands as she takes another step forward.

"Goddammit. Why can't she just do as she's told?" Killer mutters under his breath.

"You're telling me. You raised a strong one," I mumble back. "This isn't over," I say over my shoulder as I walk toward my woman, to hopefully prevent her from seeing a dead body.

Colt stalks toward me.

"What's going on? Maybe we should leave," I ramble.

Once I'm within arms reach, he cups my face. "Kaitlyn, I need you to listen to me and go inside and not come out until I tell you to."

"Colt…"

"I'm serious, Kaitlyn. I need you to trust me right now."

"Couldn't you two have played nice for one goddamn night?"

"Kaitlyn…"

"Why are you two fighting?"

Colt takes a step toward me, making me take one back.

"I need you to go inside and take care of Kolby for me. Can you do that?"

"Not until you tell me what the hell is going on."

"I'll explain everything later, but right now, I need you to stop fuckin' fighting me, woman, and do as you're told," he hisses.

I jerk away from him and really look at him. Colt has never taken that tone with me, and while I don't appreciate it, I know he would never do it unless something has him spooked.

"Okay…" I concede.

Colt instantly relaxes and leans forward, kissing my forehead. "I'll be done soon, and then we can leave."

I nod, pulling out of his hold, and walk back to the house. Once inside, I grab Kolby from where he lies on a blanket on the floor. With him in my arms, I walk back to the window and watch my father and Colt.

They seem to be having a heated discussion, but at least they aren't shoving each other anymore.

When my mom comes up next to me, I tense, knowing that whatever she spews next is going to piss me off.

"I warned you."

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as she smiles.

I shake my head. "I don't want to hear it."

"I told you this would happen, but you wouldn't listen."

"Can you please stop?"

"They will never get along, and it's time for you to realize that. You need to do what's right and end things with that man now. You need someone your father will approve of. Someone who will keep you here with us."

"Mom…" I warn.

"All you have to do is get him to sign his rights away, and then you can take your place next to Morgue's side, like you are supposed to do."

I turn toward my mother. "You need to get it through your head that Morgue and I are never, and I mean never happening. Dad and Colt will figure it out because they know if they don't, I won't be happy. If there is one thing I know about both of those men, it is that they would do anything to make me happy. They might not have common ground anywhere else, but I will be that bridge. They will get along and get the fuck over it. If you can't accept that, then you don't need to be around."

At least, I hope they both want me to be happy more than they hate one another.

She shakes her head. "You're wrong, and the sooner you realize it, the better off you'll be. Those men will never be on the same side. They aren't built to be."

Before I can form a response, she turns and walks away.

Kolby coos in my arms, and I look down at him. I knew coming here tonight was a risk. It's one thing having my parents over to my place to have dinner with us, but it's different bringing Colt here. This is my father's territory, and Colt has no one on his side.

No one but me.

God, why did I think this was a good idea?

I don't know what to do. Both men mean so much to me, and I don't want to choose sides, but I feel like they are backing me into a corner, even if unintentionally.

I know Colt would never ask me to walk away, but at the same time, shouldn't I put him first? Especially if I want this to be something real? I mean, he is the father of my child and the man that I'm pretty sure I'm in love with. Then again, my dad is…well, my dad. My best friend since I was old enough to talk.

Side by side, both men start walking back to the house, and I rush out the door with Kolby in my arms.

"What's going on?"

"Katie bug, I need you to calm down and not ask questions right now," Dad says as he steps up to me and places his hands on my shoulders.

I scoff. "Not ask questions? Are you serious right now? I watch you two push each other, Dad. I deserve to know what's happening."

Dad looks over at Colt, and they share a look before turning back to me.

"And you will with time. I just need you to trust us right now. Colt and I are fine, right, Colt?"

"Right," Colt mutters.

"Colt's going to take you two home, and we will talk soon," Dad tells me.

"But what about dinner?"

Dad shakes his head. "I have some club business to attend to."

I scoff. "Club business? Seriously? You're going to use the club as an excuse right now? I was watching you two, Dad. You aren't in the same club. What kind of business could it possibly be? Do I need to worry you are going to put a hit out on Colt?"

"You are being irrational. Of course I won't put a hit out onhim. He's my grandchild's father, and you seem quite fond ofhim. I would never do anything to hurt you, Katie bug. Not unless he did something to warrant the death, and at this point, the fucker has been good to you. Stop worrying. We had some words. Pushed a bit, and now we are over it. Isn't that right, Colt?"

"Darlin', I promise we are okay. Things got a bit heated, is all. How about we stop and get food on the way home? It's almost time for little man's bedtime anyway," Colt chimes in as he takes a step toward me.

Dad nods. "That sounds like a great idea. I'll run in and grab her things."

Colt nods, and Dad brushes a kiss against my forehead before heading back into the house.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," Colt tells me once we hear the front door shut.

"What did he say to set you off like that?" I ask.

Colt shakes his head. "It doesn't matter."

"Colt…"

"We both knew my relationship with your old man would be rocky at best. Tonight was proof of that, and it came to a head, but we realized we have one thing in common."

"What's that?"

Colt looks me dead in the eye. "You, and we will do whatever it takes to make you happy."

My heart aches at his words.

Will they really, though? Can they really lay down their weapons and do what I need?

"Are you okay?" I ask quietly.

Colt reaches out and runs his hands along my upper arms. "No, but I will be."

"You owe me some answers."

He nods slowly. "I do, and you'll get them as soon as I figure some things out."

"Okay."

"Now come on, let's get out of here," he says as he leads me toward the car.

Colt opens the door, and I get inside. He takes Kolby from my arms and meets my father between the car and the porch. They talk quietly as he buckles Kolby into his car seat.

As I watch them, dread fills my stomach. I don't know what I'm supposed to do, and honestly, I don't know how much more of the tension between our families there will be before I'm forced to choose.

And if that happens, I don't know who I'll choose.